D&D 5E Help with a mission hook for HotDQ

theRogueRooster

First Post
I'll be discussing elements of Episode I of Hoard of the Dragon Queen. Here be spoilers.

This Saturday my group will be starting our first foray into 5E with HotDQ. I've got a fairly large group of eight players. For the start of the campaign, half of the characters will start in a tavern, while the other half are rushing to town to warn of an imminent assault by kobolds and other forces following close behind, unaware that the town is already under attack. The two groups of players will meet up shortly thereafter and presumably make their way to the keep.

Once the players reach the keep, I want to give them the option of splitting up to tackle multiple missions simultaneously. Specifically, as Nighthill briefs the party about rescuing the fine citizens holed up in the temple (Sanctuary), a messenger runs up to the governor to inform him of the trouble at the mill (Save the Mill). Both the temple and the mill are in danger, but there's only time to save one. The party can choose to save one or the other, or split and attempt both.

The hook for the temple is easy. Many of the town's healers were in the temple when the raid began. If rescued, they can provide much needed healing for the party and the beleaguered defenders.

I'm having trouble coming up with as compelling a hook for the mill. Sure, the flour is in danger and if lost, the villagers may go hungry come wintertime. But that's a far-off danger, not an imminent one. Any ideas for a hook with more urgency? Why does the mill need saving, and why does it need saving right now? What immediate benefit could saving the mill bestow to the defense of the village?

Thanks for the help!
-tRR
 

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The miller's wife is important and she was last seen defending the mill with her family. She could be important to one of the PC's, she could be a retired adventurer who knows something important or can do something if she gets to the keep in time.

The miller's son helped betray the town and is in league with the dragon cult, someone saw him trying to get into the mill with blood covering him and murderous intent in his eyes. If taken alive he could provide some inside knowledge about the dragon cult, but time is off the essence.

The mill was once used as a defensive tower and there are a few ballista bolts there, the keep has run out firing at the blue dragon and needs more ammo.
 

I'm having trouble coming up with as compelling a hook for the mill. Sure, the flour is in danger and if lost, the villagers may go hungry come wintertime. But that's a far-off danger, not an imminent one. Any ideas for a hook with more urgency?

It's not just that the flour is in danger; the flour is the danger.

Boom.
 

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